What is Level 1-5 commissioning?
Level 1-5 commissioning (Cx) is the industry-standard process for verifying that critical facility systems — power, cooling, fire, controls — work as designed before the owner takes operational handoff. Each level adds layered verification, from factory testing of individual components (Level 1) through integrated systems testing (Level 4) and post-occupancy operational verification (Level 5).
What is Level 1 (L1) commissioning?
Level 1 is the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). Equipment is tested at the manufacturer before shipment to confirm it meets spec. Typical components: UPS systems, switchgear, generators, chillers, CRAH/CRAC units. Pass/fail criteria are documented per manufacturer test scripts, with witnessing by the owner's commissioning agent (CxA) when scope warrants.
What is Level 2 (L2) commissioning?
Level 2 is the Site Acceptance Test (SAT) and pre-functional checks. Equipment is verified on-site after delivery and installation but before energization — verifying it survived shipping, was installed correctly, and is ready for start-up. Includes visual inspection, settings verification, and continuity / megger / insulation tests.
What is Level 3 (L3) commissioning?
Level 3 is Functional / Start-up Testing. Each system is energized and tested standalone — does the UPS hold load, does the generator transfer cleanly, does the cooling system reach setpoint under load. The system is verified to operate within its design parameters in isolation.
What is Level 4 (L4) commissioning?
Level 4 is Integrated Systems Testing (IST). All systems are tested together as an integrated whole, including failure-mode and load-bank testing. The data hall is run through realistic failure scenarios (utility loss, UPS battery exhaustion, cooling failure) to verify that backup systems engage correctly and the hall maintains operational continuity.
What is Level 5 (L5) commissioning?
Level 5 is Post-Occupancy / Operational Verification. After the owner takes occupancy and the data hall is running real load, the systems are verified once more under actual operating conditions, with measured-vs-design comparisons and operational documentation (BMS setpoints, alarm thresholds, maintenance schedules) reviewed and signed off.
Does HexTel run commissioning, or just support it?
HexTel supports the owner's Commissioning Authority (CxA) through all 5 levels — installation crews, witnessed-test attendance, punch resolution, evidence documentation, and closeout packet assembly. We are not the third-party CxA on a project (that role belongs to the owner-engaged commissioning firm), but we provide the field execution and documentation that the Cx process verifies.
